IMG

Sunday, November 25, 2007

I wish I could say that I watched most of the action today at the IMG/Bollettieri Tennis Academy, but in truth, I spent most of the warm and sunny Sunday at tournament headquarters (the indoor courts) answering questions and taking scores.

I caught a bit of Joe Di Giulio's second round win in the 12s, and a few games of Vicky Duval's loss. After not losing a game in her first round match, Duval, one of four No. 1 seeds from the U.S., fell to Olga Ianchuk of the Ukraine 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. Unlike Duval, the other three U.S. girls' No. 1s cruised into the third round--Sachia Vickery and Tina Jiang didn't lose a game in the process, while Madison Keys lost only two. In addition to Di Giulio, other American No. 1s, Roy Lederman and Luca Corinteli advanced. Grayson Goldin also got through to the third round, with a 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3 win over fellow Floridian Daniel Pivonka.

I was determined to see the girls' 18 qualifying, but the matches were spread throughout the 31 courts and I saw only parts of five of them. Olivia Janowicz lost 6-4, 6-4 to Charlotte Rodier, but Danielle Mills had better luck in a tough two-setter against Naomi Broady of Great Britain, 7-5, 6-4. Kristy Frilling advanced fairly quickly in straight sets, but Jessica Alexander showed a lot of grit in her 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 win. Kristie Ahn had great crowd support and rode it to a first set tiebreaker victory, but her opponent, Ajla Tomljanovic of Croatia, came back to take the next two sets 6-1, 6-1.

The boys' 18s qualifiers from the U.S. are Brennan Boyajian, Alex Domijan and Denis Kudla. Unseeded Floridians Boyajian and Domijan had straight set wins, but Kudla, a No. 1 seed in qualifying needed three sets to take out a No. 2 seed, Adrien Puget of France. Bob Van Overbeek, a No. 1 seed, lost to unseeded Juan-Carlos Spir of Columbia, 7-6(3), 6-3.

Qualifying was completed in the other age divisions and all draws are available now by clicking here.

Probably the most interesting and absurd wildcard I have ever seen is the one for the B18 main draw at Eddie Herr......a boy from the US (Ohio) who probably wouldn't win a match at the B16 qualies got a WC into the B18 main?? Crazy......

Why the USTA gives a main draw boys 18 wild card to Kobelt. He is not even a solid player in boys 16 USTA. They should have use the wild card for young players with true potential like kudla dennis, bob van overbeek or jordan cox. What parameters the USTA uses to give the wild cards? What does these guy have over fairly a hundred of other USA players with much more potential and record than him. When the people criticizes the USTA for not seeing beyond ranking is not telling them to assign wild cards to anyone who ask it. Really theres is something very fishy in this wild card thing. All the other wild cards that the USTA assigned where very well deserved.

They said Danielle Mills is from Rochester NY and came to Bollettieri Fulltime at age 11. She's 16 now. She didn't play any USTA and did ITF's 18 at 13, and Pro Futures and Challengers since she was 14. She was in the same group with Michelle Britto, Tammy Hendler, Tara Moore, Nichole Bartnik and Mallory Cecil. She had the size, but her game has now grown into her size. The crowds followed every one of her matches.

What are the criteria the USTA uses to give wild cards. All the wild cards except the one of Kobelt are logical. Kobelt is not even a solid player in Boys 16 USTA. Why they used that wild card in him and did not gave it to upcoming USA young players like Kudla, van overbeek or cox.

Charlie Jones is a good player but for him to win a national open 18's... That is a very weak draw compared to the other national opens.. and you cant even compare it to the california national open.The California national had alot of quality players who would of had great results at eddie herr.

Collette.......thanks for the info on Peter Kobelt but that raises more questions in my mind....why would the tourney give a discretionary wild card to a player ranked #402 in the B18 rankings....a "4 star player".........???

I am not commenting on the wisdom of the decision to give Peter Kobelt a wild card, but knowing something about him might provide some insight as to what the USTA or the tournament (which is run by IMG and who are sports agents) are thinking.

Peter is at least 6 ft. 5 inches tall and still plays high school basketball. His father is about 6 ft. 10 and his mother is about 5 ft. 11 inches. Perhaps they think he will be the next John Isner.

Keep in mind that it was reported that Phillip Bester, another very tall serve and volleyer, was offered an IMG contract when he was only 12 years old and this was right after he lost a match 2 & 1 in the Eddie Herr 12s. They were apprently looking beyond his current results and more to his future potential.